Harness having a deployable rappelling assembly

Abstract

A harness having a deployable rappelling assembly is disclosed. The harness includes a strap construction including an upper torso securing portion having shoulder straps that extend from a rear torso portion to a front torso portion, a leg securing portion extending downward from the rear torso portion and having right and left leg straps, each of the left and right leg straps including a releasable connector, and a rappelling assembly connected to the front torso portion. The rappelling assembly may fold from a stowed position to a deployed position, and include loops and a cross member. The leg straps may be passed through the loops to connect the front torso portion to the leg securing portion for climbing or rappelling. The harness also may be incorporated into a garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A harness having a deployable rappelling assembly, comprising:
 a strap construction including an upper torso securing portion having shoulder straps that extend from a rear torso portion to a front torso portion; 
 a leg securing portion extending downward from the rear torso portion and having right and left leg straps; 
 each of the left and right leg straps including a releasable connector; 
 wherein the deployable rappelling assembly includes first and second front strap portions that each extend from the front torso portion, with the first front strap portion having a right loop and the second front strap portion having a left loop, and the deployable rappelling assembly further comprising a crossing member connected to and extending between the right and left loops; and 
 wherein the deployable rappelling assembly is foldable upward to a stowed position when not configured for rappelling wherein the right and left loops are located proximate the front torso portion and wherein said right and left leg straps do not pass through said right and left loops respectively when in said stowed position, and wherein the deployable rappelling assembly is foldable downward to a deployed position when configured for use in rappelling wherein the first and second front strap portions extend downward from said stowed position and the front torso portion and are connected to the respective right and left leg straps by having the right leg strap extend through the right loop and the left leg strap extend through the left loop. 
 
     
     
       2. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein each leg strap is configured to encircle a user's leg. 
     
     
       3. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein each leg strap releasable connector further comprises a side release clasp buckle. 
     
     
       4. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein each leg strap includes a first portion extending outward and forward and a second portion extending forward and outward, wherein the first portion connects to the second portion. 
     
     
       5. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the crossing member further comprises a connector that is configured to receive a line when rappelling. 
     
     
       6. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the rear torso portion further comprises crossing straps. 
     
     
       7. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the rear torso portion further comprising a connector that is configured to receive a line when rappelling. 
     
     
       8. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the harness is connected to a garment. 
     
     
       9. The harness of  claim 8 , wherein the upper torso securing portion is concealed within the garment. 
     
     
       10. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the front torso portion folds relative to the rear torso portion via the shoulder straps. 
     
     
       11. The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the front torso portion further comprises a releasable connector that connects the front torso portion to the rear torso portion. 
     
     
       12. The harness of  claim 1 , further comprising left and right front torso portion releasable connectors that connect the front torso portion to the rear torso portion. 
     
     
       13. The harness of  claim 12 , wherein each front torso portion releasable connector further comprises a side release clasp buckle.